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District Man Convicted Of First-Degree Murder While Armed And Other Charges In Slaying In Southeast Washington-Attack Took Place On Halloween Night 2009-

WASHINGTON – Darrell Lee, 24, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of first-degree murder while armed and related firearms charges in a killing that took place on Halloween 2009 in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Ronna L. Beck scheduled sentencing for May 17, 2013.

According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of Oct. 31, 2009, the victim, Ashton Hunter, 19, was staying with his girlfriend in an apartment building in the 300 block of 37th Street SE. That night, he went outside, expecting to meet one of his acquaintances from his home neighborhood of 7th & O Streets NW. Mr. Hunter went outside and met with Lee, had a conversation with him, and then started to walk back into the apartment building.

As Mr. Hunter approached the building entrance, Lee followed him down the sidewalk, pulled out a gun and shot him several times in the torso. Mr. Hunter died later that night from his injuries.

In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen expressed his appreciation to the detectives, officers and others who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Phaylyn Hunt and Meridith McGarrity; Information Technology Specialists Leif Hickling and Joe Calvarese, Victim/Witness Specialist Debra Cannon, and Supervisory Victim/Witness Specialist Michael Hailey. Finally, he commended the work of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gallun, who obtained the indictment in the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Gorman and Richard DiZinno, who investigated and prosecuted the case at trial.